Risk of Stroke May Double in Women With Migraine History

Stroke preventive measures should be considered in women with a history of migraine headache.

Women with a history of migraine headache face a more than 2-fold increased risk of stroke, according to data presented at the 2016 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans.

In order to better examine the long-term risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in women with migraine headache, Cecil A. Rambarat, MD, of the University of Florida in Gainesville, and colleagues evaluated a cohort from the Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) Study.

A total of 917 women were included in the study, of which 224 (24.4%) reported a history of migraine headache. Hazard ratios were determined for time to first adverse CV event, including CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, heart failure hospitalization, and non-fatal stroke in women both with and without a history of migraine headache. Hazard ratios were also determined for all-case death, angina hospitalization, death or myocardial infarction, and CV death or myocardial infarction. Median follow-up was 6 years.